PHILIPSBURG--The regulatory administrations of St. Maarten, St. Martin, Anguilla and the Netherlands (representing Saba and St. Eustatius), met in Anguilla June 8-10 on FM, UHF and mobile frequency coordination and monitoring.
Frequency coordination is a complex process whereby the different administrations engage in legal and technical negotiations to ensure harmony of the mobile networks of all telecom operators in the different island territories, Bureau Telecommunications and Post (BTP) said in a press release on Wednesday.
During the coordination meetings, administrators attempted to ensure that the mobile network of one operator would not cause or receive interference from another operator. Given the close proximity of the islands and the mobile spectrum shared by all, the need for coordination arose to eliminate incompatibilities in frequency band usage, BTP said.
The coordination initiative began in tripartite format and has now expanded to include Saba and St. Eustatius represented by the Netherlands.
The four regulatory administrations held in-depth discussions on the needs of each territory and reached agreements in which the most current coordination is outlined in the form of a preferential and non-preferential frequency plan. The provisions of the agreements reached add to the mandatory requirements of the International Telecom Union (ITU) Constitution and the ITU Radio Regulations.
The regulatory administrations invited their respective operators to attend presentations on Friday, June 10, on current frequency plans and the agreements reached by the administrations. BTP Director Antony Carty said the meeting had been fruitful and successful.
“Providing reliable telecommunication services requires interference-free mobile spectrum and that can only be achieved with the renowned assistance of our counterparts and their outstanding willingness to cooperate,” he said. “The determination of all participants to come to an equitable coordination of spectrum shared, contributed to the results achieved.”
Agreements also were made concerning the monitoring of mobile frequency bands. BTP Technical Department head Sidney de Weever said cross-border measurements would be conducted at different intervals and the results of these measurements would be shared amongst the regulatory agencies first and then made public, to ensure that all operators are in keeping with agreed-on frequency division and usage, ensuring equity for all operators throughout the four regimes.
BTP commended the Government of Anguilla and the regulatory administration Public Utility Commission (PUC) for hosting the meetings and the “warm welcome” given to participants.
There will be an annual review of the agreements, as the introduction of new systems occurs and as global trends may require.
Source: Daily Herald
Anguilla, Netherlands, St. Maarten, France agree on mobile spectrum
